The Restoration Branch movement is centered around Independence, Missouri which followers believe, as Joseph Smith Jr. and Joseph Smith III taught, was/is/will be the centerplace of Zion .
Their basic beliefs reaffirm the original " slide series but the following information may also be helpful:
The "six fundamental principles of the Restored gospel", often cited as the foundation of traditional RLDS belief, are found in the sixth chapter of Hebrews in the RLDS Inspired Version Of The Bible . They are:
# Faith towards God .
# Repentance from Dead Works .
# Baptism s of water and of the Holy Ghost .
#Laying on of hands. (such as priesthood ordinations and administration to the sick)
# Resurrection of the dead.
# Eternal Judgement .
Ordinances in the Restoration branches movement are seen as sacred covenants between the individual or married couple, and God. Many Restoration branch members believe that only priesthood with authority that can be traced back to the original RLDS church have authority to perform legitimate ordinances. These ordinances include:
The Restoration Branches cannon of scripture consists of:
#The RLDS Inspired Version Of The Bible
#The RLDS 1908 Authorized Edition of the Book Of Mormon , not to be confused with the edition of the Book of Mormon in use by the LDS Church, or the RLDS 1966 Edition.
#The RLDS Doctrine & Covenants up to Section 144
Although some members of the higher priesthood offices (such as High Priests, Seventy and Patriarchs) still survive within the Restoration Branches movement, at this time they only claim to be able to ordain Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons due to the scattered condition they perceive in the Church.
As the Restoration Branches are very scattered and disorganized, no one organization is able to speak for all of them at this time. However, here is a sampling of some of the differences in their beliefs from the Community Of Christ :
- The Community of Christ ordains women to priesthood offices. The Restoration Branches believe that women have different (but not inferior) callings from men and that the Lord never intended them to hold priesthood offices, citing the lack of women's ordinations in the RLDS Inspired Version of the Bible , the RLDS 1908 Authorized Edition of the Book of Mormon and all of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants up to Section 144. The Restoration Branches specifically reject Section 156, which called for women's ordinations, as contrary to the word of God.
- The Community of Christ, following instructions given in Section 156 of their version of the Doctrine and Covenants, built a structure near the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri called the Temple Of Peace , including a "World Plaza." Many members of the Restoration Branches refuse to worship in or near this structure and no known Restoration Branch recognizes the Community of Christ's claim of divine direction to build it.
- Many members of Restoration Branches believe they have been disenfranchised in church government by the Community of Christ, citing the rights of branches listed in the ''Articles of Incorporation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.'' (1872) They argue that the methods employed to institute Supreme Directional Control violated the branches and individual members rights to voice and vote in the deliberative assemblies of church government.
- No known Restoration branch recognizes any person who currently claims to be President of the Church of Jesus Christ restored under Joseph Smith, Jr. , as a legitimate president of the High Priesthood or Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.
- Most members of Restoration Branches regard all changes to the restored gospel (as originally taught and practiced in the Church of Jesus Christ restored under Joseph Smith Jr., and reorganized under Joseph Smith III ) and the alteration made to its ordinances as Apostasy and an Abomination in the sight of God.
Each Restoration branch exists as an independent entity. Though all generally follow the traditional doctrines of the RLDS church, many have unique views on specific doctrinal and church government-related issues. These include:
- Some members dispute whether Restoration branches should claim to be members of the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," as that name was used for many years after the dissention within the Community of Christ, which currently holds the legal right to the name. Those in favor of using the name cite various historical precedents, such as Joseph Smith III's remarks during the Temple Lot Case , to support their position that the Restoration Branches can and should use the name.
- Restoration branch members have diverse opinions on financial issues. Some believe that one's tithes should be 10% of one's '''''increase''''' (defined as income after expenses) but the exact principle(s) are disputed, as is the distribution of funds.
- Most Restoration saints (as church members are called) believe only the Doctrine and Covenants should be officially recognized, but some fringe groups argue for the supremacy of the Book of Commandments.
- Most Restoration members believe the Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit to be the same thing, as part of the Holy Trinity , but others argue that the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit and Comforter are separate entities.
- Some Restoration branches and members believe that a couple's marriage covenant remains literally "until death do they part." They would consider someone who divorced a spouse and remarried as being in Adultery . They sometimes use the term, "serial marriage." This may affect whether their branches would recognize a man's priesthood authority.
Different organizations have formed in the Restoration attempting to unify the branches.
- Center Place Restoration School is a private school for grades K -12. The Waldo Avenue Restoration Branch also meets in the building, which is owned by the school. Children from many different Restoration branches, as well as Community of Christ, and other non-Restoration faith-based churches attend. Services are held for students and school-related functions often double as gatherings for Restoration saints.
- The Conference Of Restoration Branches is an attempt to restore order to and unify the branches. It has been misconstrued by many members as an attempt to have the Restoration branches rejoin the Community of Christ, while actually it represents an important movement further away from the Community of Christ - establishing the Restoration's identity as a separate denomination.
- The Restoration Elders Conference 's councils act as a Restoration news and information service. They maintain a schedule for joint activities (including youth activities) and services, and generally assist with many common church goals, such as missionary work.
- The Pastors Of Zion is an informal meeting of the chief executive officers of some Restoration branches.
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